Hanuman Garhi is only about a kilometre away from the Ram Temple at the disputed Ramjanmbhoomi-Babri Masjid site.
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Mr Gandhi’s said his month long “Kisan Mahayatra” is aimed at highlighting the plight of farmers in Uttar Pradesh. He will be the first Congress leader and a member of Nehru – Gandhi family to visit the temple town since the demolition of the Babri mosque there in 1992.
He is also set to meet Mahant Gyan Das, a prominent anti-VHP/ RSS figure later during his stay.
As part of the yatra, “Khaat Sabha” (Charpoy meetings) are being organised for Rahul to interact with farmers.
He is also expected to visit Kichaucha Sharif Dargah in neighbouring Ambedkar Nagar district before the day ends.
Congress’ perceived soft Hindutva strategy is reportedly being orchestrated by strategist Prashant Kishor to counter BJP’s development agenda in Uttar Pradesh.
The Congress vice-president will later hold a road show in Faizabad.
Rahul’s every move is being decided by master poll strategist Prashant Kishor, who has been roped by the Congress to bring back its golden days in the Hindi heartland.
At the rally, Rahul addressed a crowd, and attacked the central government saying, “You say your Government is for the poor then why did you increase rail fares?” “(If a farmer takes away a charpoy, he is called a “thief” but people like Vijay Mallya who run away with crores of rupees are called mere “defaulters”)”, he said.
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Meanwhile Party’s chief ministerial candidate Sheila Dikshit along with Sanjay Singh led another “27 Saal-UP Behal’ yatra here from Congress state head-quarter on Saturday morning”.
